When I lived in Alkham I tried to get KCC to consider addressing the issues of safety on this road. The following document
http://www.kentdowns.org.uk/PDF/RuralStreetsandLanes.pdf
- especially from page 33 - gives some imaginative responses to traffic control but these were never taken up.
There are also examples that prove the wisdom in removing barriers from streets, a topic which exercised a lot of people on here a while ago.
There is evidence for a new approach to 'shared spaces' but it seems that the courage (and money nowadays) is lacking amongst those with the ability to implement it.